As the tech industry goes all-in artificial intelligenceYou might not be surprised to learn that some of the most in-demand jobs in the United States focus on AI engineering, consulting, and research.
The spotlight has been on big tech companies like OpenAI, Meta, MicrosoftAnd Google trying to dominate the market with the right talent. Yet small businesses and startups, as well as non-tech companies, also need high-quality AI professionals.
The search is also underway for skilled individuals who can see beyond the initial adoption of AI and the first wave of integrations and product launches.
“Organizations are increasingly combining technical AI roles with human-centric, governance, and operational titles,” Christina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code, told Mashable. Mancini said this shift reflects a shift from organizations simply experimenting with AI to using it deliberately and responsibly.
This trend is highlighted by the growing interest in hiring AI consultants and strategists. This role, along with four other tech titles, recently appeared on LinkedIn Annual Review of the 25 Fastest Growing Jobs in the country:
1. AI engineers
The fastest growing role in the United States, according to LinkedIn? AI engineer.
There are a wide variety of applications for artificial intelligence, from powering robotic systems to developing complex algorithms that drive generative chatbots. An AI engineer can create models that can perform tasks, along with the required production infrastructure.
Crushable speed of light
AI engineers should expect to rely on deep technical knowledge to create AI agents, optimize the output of large language models, and train neural networks. They must also have comprehensive mathematical and statistical skills, LinkedIn notes.
Coursera Estimates the role’s annual income at $145,080, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. AI Consultants and Strategists
The second-fastest growing position in the United States focuses on organizational implementation of AI, according to LinkedIn. Consultants and strategists with key expertise in areas such as IT and artificial intelligence, as well as business acumen, can succeed in these roles. Their job, according to LinkedIn, is to help businesses implement AI in ways that make them more efficient and strategic. This may involve project management, long-term planning and the development of ethical and responsible practices.
Independent consultants can charge by the hour (over $300) or per project, according to LinkedIn. Although salaries vary, LinkedIn estimates that entry-level consultants can earn between $60,000 and $100,000. Those with much more experience can earn more than $200,000 per year, according to LinkedIn.
3. Data Annotators
Building and training a machine learning model often requires data annotators, also known as content analysts. Ranked as the fourth fastest growing job by LinkedIn, this role is in high demand as companies rely on data annotators to evaluate metadata or raw data with labels or tags. These annotations provide context to articles, social media posts, customer reviews, images, and videos used to train AI models, allowing them to communicate more accurately.
While entry-level data annotators can earn $20 per hour, those with expertise in AI or experience managing specialized content, such as medical data, can earn between $100 and $180 per hour. according to LinkedIn.
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4. Artificial intelligence and machine learning researchers
Alongside massive financial investments, private research roles have exploded as institutions expand their internal teams dedicated to advancing generative AI. Responsible for designing and testing new models, algorithms, and future applications of generative AI, these research positions rank fifth on LinkedIn as one of the fastest-growing positions in the United States.
According to Apple, their AI/ML research team studies technology, publishes his research, and organizes and attends conferences on deep learning. Google currently has more than 1,700 job offers for positions on its research teams, including dedicated AI research engineers and scientists in the areas of security and privacy, advertising, search, and machine learning optimization.
According to LinkedIn’s findings, the majority of these positions are offered in technology hubs: San Francisco, New York and now Boston. The gender divide is also quite marked: 74% of positions in this field are held by men, with an average of three years of prior experience. And the median salary is six figures, according to Zip Recruiter putting it at $130,000 per year.
5. Data Center Technicians
In 2025, $61 billion has been dedicated to the infrastructure of data centers operating around the world, according to a report by S&P Global. According to the S&P Global report, in part because of the energy-intensive demands of generative AI, these data centers are financed by large technology companies and a shaky model of private equity debt. bureaucratically supported by the federal government.
Hardware specialists including technicians responsible for supervising new installations and their server networks, are sought. These positions require physical and technical skills: They must install and maintain servers, organize cable connection plans, and constantly monitor the vast network they are physically building for people around the world to use. According to LinkedIn’s report, most employees in these positions previously worked in IT or data center operations and career sites like Glassdoor are putting their median salaries around $68,000. The majority of positions are based in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Atlanta, and Columbus, Ohio, areas that overlap growing data center hubs across the United States